Hotel Convento Santa Catalina is located in the heart of
Antigua Guatemala, on the city's most prestigious and well-known
street of this beautiful colonial city directly under the Arch
of Santa Catalina. The Arch is the most famous of all Antigua’s landmarks.
In Antigua, Arch street is where everything happens and we are right
in the middle of it all. Anything you want to do is just outside
the hotel’s entrance. The hotel and restaurant entrance are on Arch
Street directly under the arch, but the hotel rooms have a good degree of
separation from any street noise. So, the hotel rooms are quiet and peaceful
for a good nights sleep.

Our Hotel is located in what was the second monastery founded by the
Augustinian order on December 27th 1609, in honor of St. Catherine of
Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr. In the walls of the hotel, there are over
400 years of history. We have many antiques displayed throughout the
hotel for you to see and photograph. On May 10th 1613, the actual
construction of the convent started. Then, in 1626, the church
construction began. All construction was completed in 1647. There
are many of these old walls still here today. So, while staying in
Hotel Convento Santa Catalina, you are defenitely sleeping in a historical
monument. Some people might say a museum of colonial or Catholic church
history. The convent became so
popular that the number of nuns outgrew the facilities, forcing them
to buy and use part of the next block connected only by the arch. The Arch
was built in July 1693 and through an internal passageway, allowed
the nuns to cross the street without being seen in public, which was
a rule of their sect or order. The earth quake of July 29th 1773 destroyed
much of the convent and arch. The convent principal building, now
the Hotel Convento Santa Catalina, and the Arch were restored. The clock tower
above the arch was also added when the arch was restored. So,
this hotel is considered one of the best examples of colonial architecture
in Antigua Guatemala. Antigua is famous for its open central gardens
with a central fountain. Our large fountain was hand craved from stone
and is a center piece in our beautiful courtyard.

In these monumental walls, there is still the atmosphere of old colonial times in
this historical and protected property. We have created 10 comfortable rooms
surrounding the main garden and 7 more rooms in area facing the ruins of old church.
We have many things unique to our hotel and one is through a viewing window of the hotel's
corridor, you can see the statues used for the processions of Semana Santa. The other
is the original staircase going through the inside of the arch.

Our restaurant, Restaurante del Arco, was founded in 2005. It is named
after the main icon of our beautiful city of Antigua, "El Arco" or “The Arch”.
It is located in the entrance and main hall of the hotel and sprawls through
one corridor and the central garden area. We offer a delicious and varied menu of
international cuisine, Guatemala typical dishes and American dishes. This
guarantees you a memorable dining experience inside a 400 year old historical convent
and excellent service.